Hampton residents who want to participate in ghoulish and creative fun locally have a new option — the city of Hampton’s scarecrow contest.

Entries will be accepted until Oct. 8 at the city’s Main Street office.

In order to display a scarecrow, interested entrants must complete an entry form.

Candy Franklin, Main Street director, said the event’s resurgence from the last one in 2003 was simply because of interest.

“It really depends on the main street director and their priorities,” she said. “Some focus on downtown development, others on the streetscape projects. The first main street director really encouraged me to do it, and when I talked to people, they were in agreement.”

The scarecrows will be scattered throughout the city and not in one central place.

Judges, which Franklin said have not been determined as of yet, will determine the winner after voting concludes on Oct. 31.

For voting, pictures of all the scarecrows will be compiled into an album on Facebook. Residents will have an opportunity to select their favorite by either commenting on or “liking” said photo.

Currently, Franklin said there are seven entries, decorated in unforgettable ways.

“I have one here at the office named Eileen because no matter which way you look at her, she leans one way or other,” Franklin said.

“The Henry County Domestic Violence Taskforce is planning on bringing one named scary Charlotte who scares away violence.”

Additionally, Russell’s, a car repair business in the city, has set up its scarecrow named Rusty.

The goal of the event, overall, according to Franklin is to usher in the fall season and cooler temperatures with a popular tradition, Hampton style.

“It’s a fun thing to do,” she said. “It shows our creativity and that the community wants to participate in something.”

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